By H.P. Lovecraftand Willis ConoverNew Introduction by S.T. Joshi

Dust Jacket Text

Fantasy-horror writer HOWARD PHILLIPS LOVECRAFT (1890–1937) was a true
American original. His macabre tales spanned the gap between those of Edgar Allan Poe and
Stephen King. Typical Lovecraftian themes—evident in The Call of Cthulhu and Other
Weird Stories and The Doom That Came to Sarnath and Other Stories—deal with the
powerlessness of the human race in a malevolent, godless universe; a fear of madness; and the
downfall of civilization. His gods were cosmic entities that could, with a wave of their
tentacles, enslave mankind or drive everyone insane.

Yet, while his writing could be categorized, Lovecraft the man remained a mystery. Some viewed him
as an obscure pulp-magazine writer and neurotic misanthrope, while others encountered a gifted
author, witty conversationalist, and generous friend and mentor. Here, in Lovecraft at
Last, emerges a man who belies the former to reveal the latter. In 1936, fifteen-year-old
Willis Conover began corresponding with Lovecraft—about art, culture, ethics,
architecture, religion—and their friendship continued until the end of the author’s
life. Conover collected and edited the letters, producing this rare book (only 3,000 copies of
the original edition were ever printed) that illuminates the writer in a new light. And through
Conover’s eyes, we see Lovecraft whole.

WILLIS CONOVER (1921–1996), best known as the jazz commentator for Voice of America,
published Science Fantasy Correspondent when he was fifteen. S.T. JOSHI is the author of
H.P. Lovecraft: A Life (forthcoming from Cooper Square Press) and has edited and
annotated collections of Lovecraft’s fiction. He lives in New York City.